Patio torch



y 1966 M. E. WATSON 3,248,907

PATIO TORCH Filed Sept. 24, 1964 4 1/ 1.1 1/ III/l ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,248,907 PATIO TGREH Max E. Watson, Omaha, Nehru, assignor to Paramount Paper Products Co., Omaha, Nebr., a corporation of Nebraska Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,909

7 Claims. ((31. 6721) This invention relates to combustible illuminators and more particularly to a torch including a block of combustible material having a combustion chamber formed therein and a casing of non-inflammable material.

An object of the invention is to provide a patio torch or the like that will burn with very little smoke as compared to conventional kerosene-fueled torches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a patio torch that produces a brighter flame than conventional torches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaner type of patio torch i.e. no liquid fuel to spill, no soot or carbon deposits and considerably less smoke as related to kerosene-fueled torches.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a disposable patio torch that maintains a constant flame height.

Other features and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherein possible in the several views in which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial sectional view of the torch made in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the torch taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the torch.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, the torch shown therein, is indicated generally by the numeral 10. It consists of a tubular block 12 of compressed papier-mache impregnated with an inflammable fuel such as parafiin wax. The block 12 is provided with a longitudinal opening 14 that extends the length of the block.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the block 12 is encased in a cylindical non-inflammable jacket or container 16 that projects axially beyond both ends of the block. The container is preferably composed of a relatively rigid material such as aluminum sheet, fireproof fiberboard, or similar materials. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the upper portion of the container generally indicated at 18 projects beyond the block to effectively shield the flame from wind and is provided with a plurality of air openings 20. The lower portion of the container generally indicated at 22 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending projections 24- that support the tubular block 12. Located at the bottom of the container 16 and below the block 12 are a series of air openings 26 formed from bending the laterally extending projections 24 inwardly. The openings 26 permit air to enter below the bottom of block 12 and pass up through the opening 14 to support combustion within the opening peripherally of the inner surface of the block 12. Accordingly, the block 12 does not burn away in a downward direction and the height of the flame within the upper extended portion 18 of the container 16 is uniform throughout the burning process. The principal burning action takes place at the bottom of the block 12 thereby consuming the fuel from the bottom upward. As a result of this burning action no device is required to push the block 12 upwardly relative to the container 16 since the top of the block does not burn away.

A suitable fuel for impregnating the block may be a petroleum wax, synthetic wax or any similar material that burns with less odor and smoke than liquid fuels.

It is to be understood that the block 12 and container 16 can be of any suitable shape. In the broadest sense, the block 12 may be peripherally surrounded by a noninflammable material such as aluminum foil rather than a container of metallic sheet material as shown in the drawings. In this event, a suitable metal bracket would be devised to incorporate points 18, 20, 24 and 26.

The block 12 may be prepared in any suitable manner. Broadly stated, the method of making the block comprises compressing papier-mache in a mold to a suitable form and then soaking the block in liquid wax until it is completely saturated internally with the wax.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A torch comprising a block of compressed papiermache impregnated with an inflammable wax and means defining a passage longitudinally therethrough, said block being peripherally surrounded by a non-flammable material.

2. A torch according to claim 1 wherein said non-inflammable material is aluminum foil.

3. A torch according to claim 1 wherein the nonfiammable material projects axially beyond one end of the block; and further comprising means defining a plurality of openings through said non-flammable material in the portion thereof extending axially beyond the block.

4. A torch according to claim 3 further comprising means defining a block support on said non-inflammable material in engagement with the said block adjacent the other end of the block.

5. A torch according to claim 4 wherein the block support comprises an extension of the non-inflammable material axially beyond said block other end; and a plurality of lateral projections on said non-inflammable material on the extension thereof beyond said block other end, said lateral projections engaging said block other end.

6. A torch according to claim 5 wherein the block support further includes means defining a plurality of openings through said non-inflammable material in the portion thereof projecting axially beyond the block other end.

7. A torch according to claim 6 wherein said lateral projections comprise tabs deformed radially inwardly and axially upwardly from said non-inflammable material to a generally horizontal condition so as to each present a surface upwardly; said block being supported on said surface of each tab, the last-mentioned openings being thereby defined in said non-inflammable material below the lower end of said block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,220 8/ 1889 Daly 15896 695,382 3/1902 Froude 12659.5 2,344,403 3/ 1944 Gatfney et a1. 126-595 2,531,828 11/1950 Schultz 158-96 2,771,763 11/1956 Kracauer 6721 FOREIGN PATENTS 114,656 2/ 1942 Australia. 804,162 7/1936 France.

CHARLES I. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TORCH COMPRISING A BLOCK OF COMPRESSED PAIPERMACHE IMPREGNATED WITH AN INFLAMMABLE WAX AND MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGE LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH, SAID BLOCK BEING PERIPHERALLY SURROUNDED BY A NON-FLAMMABLE MATERIAL. 